Open Letter to Starbucks Demanding an End to rBGH-Contaminated Milk

Jim Donald
President and CEO of Starbucks
2401 Utah Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98134

April 14, 2006

Dear Mr. Jim Donald,

We are writing to urge Starbucks to only purchase milk produced without recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST). Our 29 organizations, which represent consumers, farmers, and people concerned about animal welfare, oppose this genetically-engineered, artificial hormone because it causes harm to cows and may pose harm to humans.

You are likely aware of the controversy surrounding rBGH. Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and all 25 countries in the European Union do not allow the use of rBGH and groups across the U.S. have expressed their concerns about this hormone.

Health Concerns

One of our major concerns with rBGH is its potential link to cancer. Injections of rBGH increase another powerful hormone, called Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1), in the cow and the cow's milk. Numerous studies indicate that IGF-1 survives digestion, which is concerning because too much IGF-1 in humans is linked with increased rates of colon, breast, and prostate cancer. When the Food and Drug Administration approved rBGH, they did not thoroughly investigate this risk. The Canadian health agency, Health Canada, reviewed the studies on rBGH in 1998 and noted, "Simply not enough is known about how IGF-1 functions to properly evaluate the potential health impacts."

While it's not clear that rBGH given to cows significantly increases IGF-1 in humans, consumers should not be subjected to this unnecessary risk, simply so dairies can produce more milk from fewer animals.

Another major concern with the use of rBGH on dairy cows is the impact on cows' health. In particular, rBGH increases the rate of mastitis, a bacterial udder infection, by 25 percent. Mastitis leads to increased use of antibiotics, including some important in treating people, like penicillin. The overuse of antibiotics is already a serious problem in the livestock industry ­ giving rise to new strains of "superbugs" that are becoming more resistant to antibiotics and are strongly linked to hard-to-treat illnesses in people.

In 1992, the U.S. General Accounting Office recommended that the FDA not approve rBGH until the mastitis problem was further studied. "Concern exists now about whether antibiotic levels in milk are already too high," the GAO wrote. "[T]here has been no examination of whether rBGH use will increase antibiotic levels in milk or beef beyond that which currently exist and, if so, to what degree those levels are acceptable." Starbucks and rBGH

In its 2005 Corporate Social Responsibility Report, Starbucks stated that "[v]ery few co-ops can assure that their dairy products were rBST-free because milk is co-mingled from a variety of dairies. Moreover, cooperatives vary in their policies regarding rBST." While this is true, it does not justify using rBGH. Starbucks has tremendous purchasing power, which allows you to require dairies selling milk to you to stop using rBGH. You would not be alone in requiring such a commitment from your suppliers. The Tillamook County Creamery Association recently voted to ban rBGH in its cheese production. The company uses well over 100 million gallons of milk per year in its cheese production, and is one of the largest cheese companies in the country. Ben & Jerry's ice cream is also rBGH-free.

Additionally, your company's social responsibility report for 2005 stated that the only way to ensure rBST-free products is to purchase certified organic dairy products, which would lead to higher prices for your customers. Going rBGH-free does not necessarily require purchasing organic dairy, as shown by the aforementioned companies who switched to rBGH-free milk without switching to organic. And since Starbucks made almost $500 million in profits last year, the company is well positioned to afford any small price increase associated with only buying rBGH-free milk.

In a 2001 letter to the Organic Consumers Association, Starbucks CEO Orin Smith said "we recognize that some of our consumers have concerns about the presence of rBST in milk products." Smith went on to say "Starbucks will begin to offer rBST-free milk as an option upon requestŠwe expect the rBST-free milk alternative will be available in all our company-owned U.S. stores by the end of the summer." Smith's 2001 letter also stated that 25 percent of Starbucks' milk supply is rBST-free and that it is "already discussing with existing suppliers what we can do to ensure the remainder of our supply is rBST-free."

Five years later, Starbucks still uses rBGH milk. While you note that you offer organic milk upon request, many customers report that your stores do not have such an alternative and its availability is not well publicized. And when Starbucks does offer a rBGH-free milk alternative, it charges customers up to forty cents extra. Finally, there is no rBGH-free option for your bottled Frappuccino drinks and ice creams.

We recognize the efforts you have taken to integrate Fair Trade and organic coffee within your stores. As the industry leader for retail specialty coffee, and a proponent of corporate social responsibility, you can have a huge impact on the market. We urge you to make a positive difference, by discontinuing the use of milk produced with recombinant bovine growth hormone. Your customers deserve, and expect, nothing less.

We would like to have a meeting with you to discuss this issue. If you are interested, please contact Patricia Lovera of Food & Water Watch at 202-797-6557.


Sincerely,

Arkansas Farmers Union
Amberwaves
Animal Welfare Institute
Cape Cod Hook Fishermans Association
Community Association for Restoration of the Environment (CARE)
Center for Food Safety
Cornucopia Institute
Environmental Commons
Families Against Rural Messes
Family Farm Defenders
Food & Water Watch
Friends of the Earth- US
Global Exchange
GRACE Factory Farm Project
The Humane Society of the United States
Idaho Farmers Union
Illinois Farmers Union
Institute for Responsible Technology
Iowa Farmers Union
Michigan Farmers Union
National Family Farm Coalition
Northwest Resistance Against Genetic Engineering
Organic Consumers Association
Pennsylvania Farmers Union
Rocky Mountain Farmers Union
South Dakota Farmers Union
Sustainable Table
The Meatrix
Washington Biotechnology Action Council